Dears,
What a great time I had first thing this morning!!!!!!!! I was typing out an email to Ed while looking out on the south China Sea and the brightest red rising sun I have ever seen, and suddenly there were Sandy and Rick and later Tucker on Skype. They could hear me, but not see me which was a good thing as I was still in my nightie and hadn't combed my hair (hadn't expected to have visitors), and they vice versa. But we had a great time catching up on all events in your part of the world.
I still haven't figured whether Spype is legal or not, but as yet I am not in the brig. I hope it will work with more of you.
Since February 9th and until March 3rd this is, and will be, a whirlwind trip. On the 9th we arrived in Yokahama to freezing weather, left there on the 10th, had one day at sea, arrived in Kobe on the 12th, left there on the 13th, had classes at sea on the 14th and 15th (Marc's birthday), arrived at Shanghai on the 16th, departed on the 18th, at sea on the 19th and 20th, arrived in Hong Kong on the 21st and departed on the 23rd.
It leaves me a bit out of breath, but what a wonderful experience. I have seen a lot of the cities, done a bit of shopping and am at peace. Yesterday we were back at sea and will be until tomorrow.
Today we all began the malaria pills, which will become a daily event until we are almost to Fort Lauderdale.
Since we left Hong Kong it has been getting warmer until now it is very hot and humid. I am thankful for my glorious cabin with balcony and breezes.
Bright and early tomorrow we will dock in Viet Nam, clear immigration and then hurry off to Pnohn Pen (or however you spell it) and then to Angkor Wat, which I am very excited about as it is new and historic territory. In my Sacred Places course, which starts shortly, the professor will talk about the buildings and their transition from Hindy to Buddist temples.
The Viet Nam war has been a big part of class discussions for the past few days. This morning 2 veterans and a protester sat as a very emotional panel. It is a time that I remember, but these kids on boards weren't even thought of.
Laura, I hope that in your early midieval studies that You get a glimpse of the civilizations that were thriving in this part of the world, while europe was in the dark ages. it is an eye-opener.
There will be silence from here until after I get back from Cambodia on the 28th late.
Love to all,
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
TID BITS February 20,2010
Dears,
I am wondering about all of you and what is going on at home. You hear from me, so please let me hear from you.
Here are tid bits that don't fit into any category:
The Explorer, this marvelous ship that is taking us around the world is one of the fastest cruise ships afloat, if not the fastest. We generally travel at somewhere between 9 and 19 knots, but it is capable of going 30. That makes us able to outrun most if not all pirate ships. I also learned yesterday that it cannot be armed any way according to maritime law but there are at least 2 water cannons on board, maybe more, that can blast any pirate out of existence.
An additional medical team came on board in Shangai from UVa, a doctor, a resident and 3 medical students. This had been planned long ago in case of a swine flu epidemic here. Knock on wood, but so far none of it.
I had my first visit to the clinic a couple of days ago. Somehow I picked up conjunctivitis and looked pretty awful. I was afraid the Japanese and the Chinese were not going to let me into their respective countries. They do a temperature scan on everyone before letting us down the gangway. I looked at my toes when I went past the inspectors.
These are pretty impressive organizations, UVa and ISE-Institute for Seaboard Education. Desmond Tutu is going to be on board for the whole voyage next fall.
The Chinese retaliated the day we arrived in Shanghai for Obama's meetinng with the Dalhi Lama and with our sending more arms to Taiwan. The Chinese immigration team sat around drinking our coffee and eating our cookies for an hour and a half, before letting us go through their system.
I don't understand Skype. I can be doing something else on the computer and suddenly there is Sandy or Ed. So far no sound, but the printed "chat" and the picture work. If you know what to do, please let me know.
Exercise was one of the big questions. There is an exercise room on the 7th deck, but I have managed to avoid it. Instead 2-3 times a day I climb the 36 steps from here on the 5th deck to the Faculty Lounge on the 7th deck, 2-3 times a day I climb the 16 steps to the dining room and class rooms on the 6th deck and several times I go from here at the bow to the stern; the ship is 600 feet long. Double the up climbing for the down and I am getting a workout. Also, in Shanghai we had to go the 47 steps down the gangway to land, and then back up later in the day.
That is about it. On to Hong Kong..........
Love to all,
I am wondering about all of you and what is going on at home. You hear from me, so please let me hear from you.
Here are tid bits that don't fit into any category:
The Explorer, this marvelous ship that is taking us around the world is one of the fastest cruise ships afloat, if not the fastest. We generally travel at somewhere between 9 and 19 knots, but it is capable of going 30. That makes us able to outrun most if not all pirate ships. I also learned yesterday that it cannot be armed any way according to maritime law but there are at least 2 water cannons on board, maybe more, that can blast any pirate out of existence.
An additional medical team came on board in Shangai from UVa, a doctor, a resident and 3 medical students. This had been planned long ago in case of a swine flu epidemic here. Knock on wood, but so far none of it.
I had my first visit to the clinic a couple of days ago. Somehow I picked up conjunctivitis and looked pretty awful. I was afraid the Japanese and the Chinese were not going to let me into their respective countries. They do a temperature scan on everyone before letting us down the gangway. I looked at my toes when I went past the inspectors.
These are pretty impressive organizations, UVa and ISE-Institute for Seaboard Education. Desmond Tutu is going to be on board for the whole voyage next fall.
The Chinese retaliated the day we arrived in Shanghai for Obama's meetinng with the Dalhi Lama and with our sending more arms to Taiwan. The Chinese immigration team sat around drinking our coffee and eating our cookies for an hour and a half, before letting us go through their system.
I don't understand Skype. I can be doing something else on the computer and suddenly there is Sandy or Ed. So far no sound, but the printed "chat" and the picture work. If you know what to do, please let me know.
Exercise was one of the big questions. There is an exercise room on the 7th deck, but I have managed to avoid it. Instead 2-3 times a day I climb the 36 steps from here on the 5th deck to the Faculty Lounge on the 7th deck, 2-3 times a day I climb the 16 steps to the dining room and class rooms on the 6th deck and several times I go from here at the bow to the stern; the ship is 600 feet long. Double the up climbing for the down and I am getting a workout. Also, in Shanghai we had to go the 47 steps down the gangway to land, and then back up later in the day.
That is about it. On to Hong Kong..........
Love to all,
Thursday, February 18, 2010
FEBRUARY 19, 2010
Hi, Dears,
Today and tomorrow will be unusually quiet days on shipboard. We are sailing down the east coast of China, leaving Shanghai and heading for Hong Kong. It is unusual because for these 2 days there will be neither classes, nor field trips for me. Usually shipboard days are for classes. About 450 passengers are on land trips and will pick up the ship in HK. This is a great time to catch up on emails, blogs, homework etc. and just enjoy this wonderful South China Sea. I won't leave the ship for an overnight until next week, when I will leave Saigon and go to Angkor Wat in Cambodia for Friday-Sunday.
Don't know how I could have forgottten one day in Japan. It was the day's trip out to see Mt Fuji. The weather almost cooperated and we could see the whole mountain except for the very tip. I hadn't realized that there were so many volcanoes and earthquakes in the world as in Hawaii and here in Japan and China.
In Shangai I had an all-day tour of the city, including lunch and dinner of Chinese food and chopsticks and then an unbelievable acrobatics show. The skyline is incredible, with sky scraper after sky scraper. My cabin doors at port looked right on the huge TV tower that you will all recognize. The next day we went to to Suzhou, a lovely city an hour and a half outside of Shanghai. It was calm, as opposed to S, built on the delta of the Yangtze River and therefore there was one canal after another, also incredible gardens and a silk factory as it was or is the center of the silk trade.
The 3rd day I had nothing planned and so 4 of us took a taxi to the old city bazaar with its billions of people. We poked around and bought nothing except a Starbucks coffee, then split up and Barbara Harris and I went to the Shanghai Museum, which is one incredible place.
So now it is quiet. Armando has just made up my bed and is cleaning the cabin. How spoiled could I be!!!!!!!!
Love to all,
Today and tomorrow will be unusually quiet days on shipboard. We are sailing down the east coast of China, leaving Shanghai and heading for Hong Kong. It is unusual because for these 2 days there will be neither classes, nor field trips for me. Usually shipboard days are for classes. About 450 passengers are on land trips and will pick up the ship in HK. This is a great time to catch up on emails, blogs, homework etc. and just enjoy this wonderful South China Sea. I won't leave the ship for an overnight until next week, when I will leave Saigon and go to Angkor Wat in Cambodia for Friday-Sunday.
Don't know how I could have forgottten one day in Japan. It was the day's trip out to see Mt Fuji. The weather almost cooperated and we could see the whole mountain except for the very tip. I hadn't realized that there were so many volcanoes and earthquakes in the world as in Hawaii and here in Japan and China.
In Shangai I had an all-day tour of the city, including lunch and dinner of Chinese food and chopsticks and then an unbelievable acrobatics show. The skyline is incredible, with sky scraper after sky scraper. My cabin doors at port looked right on the huge TV tower that you will all recognize. The next day we went to to Suzhou, a lovely city an hour and a half outside of Shanghai. It was calm, as opposed to S, built on the delta of the Yangtze River and therefore there was one canal after another, also incredible gardens and a silk factory as it was or is the center of the silk trade.
The 3rd day I had nothing planned and so 4 of us took a taxi to the old city bazaar with its billions of people. We poked around and bought nothing except a Starbucks coffee, then split up and Barbara Harris and I went to the Shanghai Museum, which is one incredible place.
So now it is quiet. Armando has just made up my bed and is cleaning the cabin. How spoiled could I be!!!!!!!!
Love to all,
Saturday, February 13, 2010
valentines day
Hi, Dears,
Sorry about the long lack of communication, but things have been busy, busy, busy.
After 10 1/2 days at sea, we handed at Yokohama, a monstrous city. That day, I went on a day-long tour of the city. These cities are interesting in that except for a very few parks they are wall to wall buildings--skyscrapers, houses and lots of everything in between. No grass or gardens to be seen, except on the outskirts, where there are rice fields.
Forgot what I did this day, but willcatch up in the next blog.
Then we had a day at sea when 500/700 people left the shop for parts unknown. I stayed here where they served us an elegant sit-down dinner. It was a good catch-up day when I even got my checkbook balanced.
Once in Kobe we were up at the crack of dawn and went off to Hiroshoima on a 5-hour drive each way. It was a real horror show. They didn't miss many of the gory details. The only possible justification of dropping those 2 bombs is that it may have saved more lives than it killed.
Yesterday 6 of us took off for a lovely village in the mountains. We took a monorail train from here, then caught a city bus. 4 luxurated in the spa; Anne MacDonald and I poked around town and then had a great sushi lunch. It was my first shopping spurge.
Now we have left Japan and are headed for Shanghai. Today and tomorrow we will be at sea, with 2 days of classes. How SAS arranged all of this I will never know.
Just had a great Skype wisit with Sandy. I had tried Hunters and Shafers on that day between cities is Japan to no avail. It works that a call from you at 6 pm or so matches my after breatkast time about 8:30 the next day. Let's try.
So, life is great after almost a month away from home.
Happy Valentines Day and love to you all,
Sorry about the long lack of communication, but things have been busy, busy, busy.
After 10 1/2 days at sea, we handed at Yokohama, a monstrous city. That day, I went on a day-long tour of the city. These cities are interesting in that except for a very few parks they are wall to wall buildings--skyscrapers, houses and lots of everything in between. No grass or gardens to be seen, except on the outskirts, where there are rice fields.
Forgot what I did this day, but willcatch up in the next blog.
Then we had a day at sea when 500/700 people left the shop for parts unknown. I stayed here where they served us an elegant sit-down dinner. It was a good catch-up day when I even got my checkbook balanced.
Once in Kobe we were up at the crack of dawn and went off to Hiroshoima on a 5-hour drive each way. It was a real horror show. They didn't miss many of the gory details. The only possible justification of dropping those 2 bombs is that it may have saved more lives than it killed.
Yesterday 6 of us took off for a lovely village in the mountains. We took a monorail train from here, then caught a city bus. 4 luxurated in the spa; Anne MacDonald and I poked around town and then had a great sushi lunch. It was my first shopping spurge.
Now we have left Japan and are headed for Shanghai. Today and tomorrow we will be at sea, with 2 days of classes. How SAS arranged all of this I will never know.
Just had a great Skype wisit with Sandy. I had tried Hunters and Shafers on that day between cities is Japan to no avail. It works that a call from you at 6 pm or so matches my after breatkast time about 8:30 the next day. Let's try.
So, life is great after almost a month away from home.
Happy Valentines Day and love to you all,
Friday, February 5, 2010
020609
Hi, Dears,
T'is I again.
At the moment we are heading into a horrendous storm. As we left Ensenada the Captain took us 300 miles out of the way to partially avoid that one. Again he diverted us 190 miles from the original course for the same reason. But today we are on a straight ocurse for Yokohama and he can't do much. It will be interesting.
For the past week or so we have been at sea and a routine has set in. I quit the music and am now happier auditing a water course, for Steve, as I wrote, and also one on the current Pakestan situation, plus the usual astronomy and sacred places.
A couple of nights ago we had our first "family" dinner, 11 kids, Mason and I. They are great and I hope that you will send all of your children on this voyage.
Tomorrow Rick and Sandy and I are going to try out the Skype.I hope it will work. I can't show you my Cabin as there is no reception, but this fabulous Faculty Lounge will blow your minds.
Excitement is building for our arrival in Japan on Tuesday. All courses are now focused on it. I will get to Mt Fuji and to Heroshima and then just poke around with a buddy the rest of the time.
More later, Love
T'is I again.
At the moment we are heading into a horrendous storm. As we left Ensenada the Captain took us 300 miles out of the way to partially avoid that one. Again he diverted us 190 miles from the original course for the same reason. But today we are on a straight ocurse for Yokohama and he can't do much. It will be interesting.
For the past week or so we have been at sea and a routine has set in. I quit the music and am now happier auditing a water course, for Steve, as I wrote, and also one on the current Pakestan situation, plus the usual astronomy and sacred places.
A couple of nights ago we had our first "family" dinner, 11 kids, Mason and I. They are great and I hope that you will send all of your children on this voyage.
Tomorrow Rick and Sandy and I are going to try out the Skype.I hope it will work. I can't show you my Cabin as there is no reception, but this fabulous Faculty Lounge will blow your minds.
Excitement is building for our arrival in Japan on Tuesday. All courses are now focused on it. I will get to Mt Fuji and to Heroshima and then just poke around with a buddy the rest of the time.
More later, Love
Monday, February 1, 2010
Hi, Dears,
I am finally figuring this thing out and do appreciate your replies.
I wish you all were here. We are somewhere between Hawaii and Yokahama with absolutely nothing in sight but blue sky and this marvelous Pacific Ocean. I really like the constant motion and the rock-to-sleep at night.
We have had 4 25 hour days since leaving Mexico. Today is Monday, tomorrow was to have been the lost day, but Wednesday will be. When we cross the International Dateline, we will just go from Tuesday to Thurdsay, without ever having Wednesday. That is the penalty for having 25 hour days.
Things at sea are far less franic that on land. Classes meet on either A Day or B Day, regardless of the actual day of the week, with Global Studies the only one on both. The music course is so-so;therefore, this morning I am going to sit in on the course on water, in your honor, Steve.
By the way, Steve, congratulations on getting the Buffalo contract. That is terrific!
There is not much to buy on shipbpard, except neat sweat hoodies and various other Semester at Sea shirts. Would anyone like one?
Oh, Laura, I will pass on the Lively Little Ladies to the Lively Little Ladies here, and they will laugh. LLL is really for Life Long Learners.
Now it is off to Global Studies and the topic something like: Is the 21st Century to be the Asia Century?
Love you,
I am finally figuring this thing out and do appreciate your replies.
I wish you all were here. We are somewhere between Hawaii and Yokahama with absolutely nothing in sight but blue sky and this marvelous Pacific Ocean. I really like the constant motion and the rock-to-sleep at night.
We have had 4 25 hour days since leaving Mexico. Today is Monday, tomorrow was to have been the lost day, but Wednesday will be. When we cross the International Dateline, we will just go from Tuesday to Thurdsay, without ever having Wednesday. That is the penalty for having 25 hour days.
Things at sea are far less franic that on land. Classes meet on either A Day or B Day, regardless of the actual day of the week, with Global Studies the only one on both. The music course is so-so;therefore, this morning I am going to sit in on the course on water, in your honor, Steve.
By the way, Steve, congratulations on getting the Buffalo contract. That is terrific!
There is not much to buy on shipbpard, except neat sweat hoodies and various other Semester at Sea shirts. Would anyone like one?
Oh, Laura, I will pass on the Lively Little Ladies to the Lively Little Ladies here, and they will laugh. LLL is really for Life Long Learners.
Now it is off to Global Studies and the topic something like: Is the 21st Century to be the Asia Century?
Love you,
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.jpg)